United went into the final Group H match having already qualified for the last 16 of the competition, a luxury that allowed Mourinho to rotate his squad, but the manager found little comfort in a performance that lacked energy and drives.

“Especially players that week in, week out, they ask why they don’t play, why they don’t start… it was a good match to play, without any kind of pressure, in a competition that everyone likes to play in.”

“But finishing second in this group is a success and I don’t think that finishing first or second – apart from a couple of clubs who are clearly much better than the others (means that) the draw will be significantly different.”